Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Calaveras get grants to expand after-school care, make it more affordable

By MERRILL BALASSONE
mbalassone@modbee.com

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Schools in Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Calaveras counties will get $24 million in federal grant money starting this summer to expand afterschool programs and offer new ones with activities ranging from karate lessons to math tutoring.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education won the five-year competitive grant on behalf of programs at 24 schools in the three- county area.

Vicki Bauman, director of prevention programs, said afterschool programs help plug the time from 3 to 6 p.m., when students, some with two working parents, can find themselves unsupervised. The grant, called 21st Century Community Learning Centers, was reauthorized under President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act and allows the states to award money to afterschool programs at schools serving low-income students.

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WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Schools in Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Calaveras counties will share in more than $24 million to create afterschool programs and expand existing ones beginning this summer. New programs:
- Agnes Baptist Elementary, Modesto
- Chatom Elementary
- Columbia Elementary
- Denair Middle School
- La Rosa Elementary, Ceres
- Prescott Senior Elementary, Modesto
- San Andreas Elementary
- Sisk Elementary, Salida
- Sonora Elementary
- Whitmore Charter, Ceres
- Patterson High
- Orestimba High, Newman
- Hughson High
- Waterford High
- Apricot Valley Elementary, Patterson
- California Avenue Elementary, Riverbank
- Cardozo Middle, Riverbank
- Fox Road Elementary, Hughson
- Hughson Elementary
- Hunt Elementary, Newman
- Jamestown Elementary
- Moon Elementary, Waterford
- Rio Altura Elementary, Riverbank
- Waterford Middle
SOURCE: STANISLAUS COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

"I think it's the purest way to keep kids from going into gangs," Bauman said. "Finding a safe place for your child is the No. 1 concern of parents."

More than 9,500 students are enrolled in afterschool programs in the three counties, Bauman said.

The first hour of an afterschool program is strictly academics -- students can complete homework, read or get extra help in a subject. Then come two hours of extracurriculars, including organized sports, dance and music.

In the era of high-stakes academic testing, many educators complain that schools have cut back those extras during the school day that make learning exciting.

"It's the fun stuff that's been taken out during the school day because of the academic rigor," Bauman said. "This is a way for them to do it after school."

At Sisk Elementary School in Salida, the grant money means parents will pay $20 a month beginning in August instead of $100 monthly to keep their children on campus after school.

"We have people in tears they're so excited," said Jack Scott, who runs Salida's afterschool programs. "People paying $100 a month to go are now going to go basically for free."

Tuesday afternoon, the Sisk students and their art teacher wrote and drew pictures on Etch-A-Sketch toys and played volleyball after completing their homework and reading.

"We get good snacks, we get to do our homework, and we get to play," third-grader Jada Brown enthused.

Parent Laura Ekler said she has a hard time getting her daughter, Julie, 9, to leave the program before the end of the afternoon.

"She loves it. I love it," said Ekler, an aide at Salida Middle School. "It's a nice, safe place and I don't have to worry."

Bee staff writer Merrill Balassone can be reached at mbalassone@modbee.com or 578-2337.